In an attempt to dump Chris Childs’ suffocating contract, the Knicks made an offer to rent Clippers’ on-the-block forward Maurice Taylor before yesterday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline. According to two league officials, the Knicks offered Childs and John Wallace for the soon-to-be-free-agent Taylor.

The Clippers are one of just a few teams that are so under the cap they could have managed Childs’ big contract but they weren’t desperate enough to take in the backup point guard. They rejected the offer and asked for Kurt Thomas. No deal.

Childs has two years left on his six-year, $24 million deal. He makes $4.1 million this season, $4.6 million next season and $5.2M in the final year.

The Knicks likely had no plans to re-sign Taylor, who is seeking a maximum contract. But as a rental, there were plusses. Clearing cap space by trading Childs would’ve been a coup, especially since third-string point guard Rick Brunson has shown improvement and the Knicks seem to be getting more comfortable with a Big Backcourt of Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston.

While Taylor is not much of a rebounder, he would’ve been a clear offensive upgrade over Wallace, who has failed to become a consistent, low-post scorer. The drawback with Taylor was playing-time issues may have surfaced. Taylor is averaging 17 points per game but would have come off the bench as a Knick.